In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening vs. Take-Home Whitening Trays (2024)

FAQs

Is in-office or at home whitening better? ›

In-office whiteners are much stronger than the other two alternatives because they have more peroxide in the solution. They can change the color of your teeth faster than at-home methods. The in-office whitening takes about an hour.

That said, at-home whitening products have lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, meaning they may not offer the same degree of shade changes that you get from professional whiteners. Products like brush-on whiteners, strips or trays can be purchased online, at pharmacies and grocery stores, etc.

While mass-produced, at-home kits might be a cheaper option, consider that professional teeth whitening is a safer and more effective investment. Professional teeth whitening at Sedation Dental Care creates more effective results in a shorter amount of time.

The results of professional in-office whitening are significantly better than the degree of whitening you can achieve at home with over-the-counter products. The whitening agent I use is more concentrated than commercial whitening agents. As a result, it lightens your teeth by about eight shades in one hour.

The primary reason to rely on your dentist's custom-tailored teeth whitening tray is it will whiten unsightly teeth much better than any product available over-the-counter. The dentist will show you exactly how your personalized teeth whitening tray should be applied to your teeth.

The cost difference mainly exists due to the lesser efficacy of whitening from at-home products. These products tend to contain lower concentrations of bleaching agents and do not work as good or fast as in-office teeth whitening.

If you maintain good oral hygiene, a chairside (or in-office) procedure should provide long-lasting results for 1 to 3 years.

Professional teeth whitening uses a more effective process

Dr. Yalamanchili is able to use a stronger process in her office, typically approved for use by dentists only. You'll see some difference in the brightness of your teeth with a DIY kit, but not as much as if you had your teeth professionally whitened.

What are the risks of teeth whitening? No matter what treatment you use, there's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel.

What is the number one teeth whitening method? ›

Option #1: In-Office Laser Whitening

This is one of the popular teeth whitening methods that some people believe is the most effective way to get a brighter smile. Using lasers and peroxide-based whitening agents in a professional setting, this teeth whitening method provides dramatic, lasting results.

If you're wondering how to whiten your teeth without damaging them, consider the following options: Baking Soda: While some argue baking soda is too abrasive to use on your teeth, dental researchers have found it has a rating of seven on the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale of 0 to 269.

Whiter Teeth

Last but not least, in-office whitening is the most effective choice. Even though the treatment is quick, it is powerful. At-home kits and whitening toothpaste cannot compete with professional results.

With proper care, your brighter smile can last for 1-3 years. A single session may last anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour. The procedure requires applying a specially formulated gel that contains anywhere between 25% to 40% hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to whiten the teeth.

Some people respond very well and teeth can get up to 3-4 shades lighter after just 5-7days of bleaching or up to 5 shades whiter with one ZOOM in office treatment. Others may not notice as much change. Your teeth will continue to lighten for a couple of days even after you stop a whitening session.

The results of dental chairside or in-office bleaching are long-lasting but not permanent. With proper care, your brighter smile can last for 1-3 years. A single session may last anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

Your dentist will carefully set up and monitor the procedure, making it safe and pain-free. And unlike in-home teeth whitening, in-office/professional whitening uses high-concentration bleaching gel, which means you'll get immediate, noticeable results from the treatment.

It's not unusual to see your teeth noticeably lighten a few shades with regular use of at-home tooth whitening products. Gel-filled trays work the fastest, with results sometimes seen in as little as a few days, researchers say. Whitening strips and gels typically lighten teeth within two weeks.

Some home kits don't contain enough whitening product to be effective. Also, if a dental professional isn't doing the whitening, the mouthguard provided may not fit properly so some of the bleaching gel may leak out onto your gums and into your mouth, causing blistering and sensitivity.